These three homes--in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina--use passive cooling techniques to eliminate the need for mechanical air conditioning. Check them out and learn a few tricks for reducing--or eliminating--your AC bills this summer.

While other candle companies are still adding synthetic fragrances to their candles and claiming to be natural, Aroma Naturals candles are made from 100 percent pure plant aromas and natural vegetable waxes (VegePure).

Verikira Naturals is a Vegan Cosmetics Organization certified-company that pledges never to use synthetic fragrances, animal byproducts and unnecessary chemicals. What more could you ask for in a beauty brand? Oh yea – it donates 10 percent of its Pink Grapefruit Collection proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation all year long.

Cleaning floors can be a bummer. Brighten up with our two recipes for clean floor success. Learn how to turn old towels into eco-friendly cloth towels for your Swiffer and try our homemade floor cleaner recipe.

Navitas Naturals is adding Blueberry Hemp to their award-winning line of organic Navitas Power Snacks. Blueberry Hemp Navitas Power Snacks provide a diversity of the most nutrient-dense organic superfoods and organic seeds, fruits and nuts.

Almost a third of chicken sold in the U.S. is injected with salt water, doubling or tripling the product’s sodium content. The USDA is considering revising its standards for chicken labeling so these products can't be labeled 'natural.'

Though used like timber, bamboo is a grass that self-propagates as it spreads underground via a network of rhizomes. A white oak tree takes 120 years to grow to maturity; bamboo takes three-and-a-half to seven years.

Check out this excerpt from Healthy Beauty: Your Guide to Ingredients to Avoid and Products You Can Trust by Sam Epstein, MD, to find out more about how to swap out conventional products for healthier, natural alternatives.

Check out this excerpt from Healthy Beauty: Your Guide to Ingredients to Avoid and Products You Can Trust by Sam Epstein, MD, to find out more about how to swap out conventional products for healthier, natural alternatives.

Valued for centuries for its fragrance and flavor, cinnamon has a wide variety of medicinal uses. Studies have shown that cinnamon can be useful in lowering blood sugar levels for people with diabetes, fighting infections and treating stomach ailments.

When a group of graduation students began designing a home on the Navajo reservation in southeast Utah, they knew keeping it cool in the desert would be an issue. Their innovative solution—a Windcatcher—is the first of its kind in the area.

To encourage Americans to get the two and a half hours of exercise a week they need, a group of health experts has developed the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan, which calls for increased funding for bike paths, physical education programs and fitness facilities.

Choosing the ideal products for your skin type can get complicated. Take the guesswork out of your beauty routine and get a head start on clean skin in 2013 with Elemental Herbology’s NEW Starter Kits.

The natural world has many treatments for the cold and flu—and some of them might surprise you. Elderberry, Echinacea, green tea, oregano and garlic are my favorite natural remedies for treating and preventing illness.

The Natural Resources Defense Council has filed a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration to get the government agency to finalize a law banning triclosan and triclocarban, two chemicals commonly found in antibacterial products.

Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center discovered that celery is high in 3-n-butylphthalides, a compound that can naturally lower blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and blocking stress hormones.

Does the huge task of cleaning windows leave you feeling overwhelmed? Follow these six simple steps—using inexpensive materials you already have around the house—to get your windows sparkling and streak-free.

Conventional household cleaners contain toxic chemicals that could have adverse effects on your health. Learn how to mix up your own homemade cleaners with these suggestions from Natural Home magazine editor-in-chief Robyn Griggs Lawrence.

Don’t let the flu, a cold or any aches, anxieties and pains get the best of you this season. With the season already upon us, here are a few herbs, fruits and foods to consider to help relieve your aches, pains and anxiety.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Numi has created the Indulgent Pu-erh Tea Collection ($19.99 - $24.99). A handsome, sustainable bamboo box holds a premium sampling of Numi’s innovative, artisanal and delicious organic pu-erh teas — the perfect introduction to this innovative line.

Nourish Organic Citrus Stick Deodorant may be the best deodorant I have ever used. Unlike conventional deodorants, Nourish is 100 percent natural—with no trace of aluminum in its ingredient list—and is USDA organic.

Green your oral hygiene routine with toothbrushes made from recycled yogurt containers by Preserve. Each toothbrush’s package doubles as a return envelope, so when you’re finished with the brush, mail it back to keep up the recycling process.

The Natural Home and Garden offices have been overflowing with lotion recently In preparation for a product roundup in our September October 2011 issue, we called in lotions from more than half a dozen companies. With almost two dozen scents

Can’t afford to buy all organic produce? You don’t have to! Knowing which fruits and vegetables have the highest and lowest pesticide residue will decrease your exposure to toxic chemicals and save you money at the grocery store.

Want to be sure about what you're putting on your skin and hair? Save a little money and have a little fun mixing up these DIY beauty treatments. These natural home beauty remedies are made from basic household and kitchen ingredients!

Bladder infections affect millions of women each year. Taking antibiotics for a bladder infection can increase chances of a repeat infection, so bypass the pharmaceuticals and treat your bladder infection naturally with these home remedies.

Chemical antibacterials, including triclosan, are health and environmental hazards. You don't have to bring these nasties into your home. Put hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil and grapefruit seed extract to work killing germs and disinfect.

This year at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California, three new natural products stood out from the rest in the event's annual "Best of the West." Discover a new way to soothe the skin with ozonated oil, a new dipable snack option for kids, and new product to help you fall asleep faster.

Jessica expounds on the concept of "Cures in Your Cupboard" from the September/October 2011 issue with a few additional natural remedies for anxiety, general wellness, headache and menstruation/menopause.

A study of 26,000 women living near a DuPont factory in West Virginia found that as levels of PFOS rose, levels of estrogen decline, putting exposed women at risk for early menopause and other related conditions.

The world's largest garden yields an abundance of fruits and vegetables, some easily recognized, others, a new experience! A mystery herb appeared in our box of organic vegetables this week. What in the world is stevia?

Every herb has a story, and that of licorice begins with its reputation as a “sweet herb.” Plants are put on this earth to provide nourishment and healing benefits. Licorice is one of those unique and special plants that does both.

Mother Earth News Radio recently interviewed Jim May, the first person to bring Stevia rebaudioside into the United States. Stevia is known most for its naturally sweet leaves. Listen to the interview here.

Zemco Industries, a division of Tyson, has recalled 380,000 pounds of deli meat suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogens, a deadly foodborne bacteria, from Walart stores across the nation.

Happy May 5th. What are you doing to celebrate? If you’re like me, then today is the day to whip up your favorite tacos, snack on sensational salsa and, most importantly, mix yourself some margaritas. This year, why not try the stevia-sweetened mix Sinless Margarita.

Whether you’re just starting out on the green path or looking for more ways to live sustainably, check out Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills by Raleigh Briggs, which teaches simple domestic skills to help you lead a DIY life.

Atrazine, a common herbicide that can cause birth defects, washes off crops and lawns and makes its way to our drinking water supply. Atrazine levels in our water supply are highest between the months of April and July, especially in the Midwest.

NOTE We never trade products for mentions in our blogs or our published magazine. We do receive free samples and will mention them only if we like the product or find it especially effective. A few years ago a friend

With all the wonderful products that walk across our desks here at Natural Home, here are a few that have stood out during the holiday season. Grab these last-minute gifts for your friends, family, or even yourself. And remember: Green is not just for the holidays. Any of these products would be great year round.

It's difficult to understand supplements when reputable sources just can't seem to get it right. The NPA recently challenged the Wall Street Journal about an article they published concerning dietary supplements. Read more.

Transforming Natural Home editorial intern Stephanie Nelson’s space started with an empty living room, and now it slowly resembles a livable space with seating. After buying a used love seat and ottoman, she recovers both so they match the room’s theme.

Personalize your gift giving with a unique herb garden gift. While this time of year conjures images of poinsettias that fade and collect dust long before the holiday festivities are done, a customized herb kit is a meaningful gift that will provide fresh herbs and provide naturally lush décor for many months afterward.

Natural Home assistant editor Kim Wallace spots a great deal! Send in your old lipstick to Lavera, a natural cosmetics company, and Lavera will send you a $10 coupon to purchase a new, natural lipstick online!

The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, a coalition of retailers, industry trade associations, and food and beverage manufacturers, has announced that it will cut a combined 1.5 trillion calories from its members' products.

You don't have to spend a fortune and buy nasty chemicals to run your dishwasher. Whip up powdered or liquid dishwasher detergent in minutes--and don't forget to add essential oil. You'll get a dose of aromatherapy while your dishes get clean.

Naturally healthy skin need not be a daunting, complex task. It can be a delightful ritual using natural ingredients found in your own home. The important first step is to simplify your beauty routine. Learn about the five necessities.

Honeybees are disappearing fast, and nobody really knows why. One way you can help yourself and the bees is to try the classic Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. Five percent of the sales from the balm will go to CCD research.

The Natural Resources Defense Council is teaming up with popular country, bluegrass and folk musicians, including Dave Matthews and Patty Loveless, for Music Saves Mountains—a one-night fundraising event to end mountaintop removal coal mining in the Appalachians.

On Thursday, March 10, our friends from the American Botanical Council hosted their annual ABCelebration. During the reception, three important people were recognized for their tremendous work in the herbal industry.

My favorite experience at the Natural Products Expo West was the 6th Annual FIG Media Luncheon, hosted by the Fresh Ideas Group. This year, the panelists discussed how to pave the road for a healthier future.

SheaMoisture’s Coconut and Hibiscus Curling Soufflé (Gel) with Agave Nectar and Flax Seed is an effective, easy-to-rinse-out, no buildup, light-weight and all-natural alternative to other curl defining styling aids on the market.

Turmeric, a curcumin-containing spice commonly used in Indian curry, has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines to cure a number of ailments. Discover the health benefits of turmeric!

Eating a proper diet will help your body get rid of excess estrogen, the culprit behind PMS symptoms. Prevent cramps, bloating, fatigue and mood swings by incorporating these five foods into your diet.

Omega-3s are important to brain health, reduce inflammation and are essential to reducing risk of chronic diseases. Boost your intake of this essential nutrient by turning to these good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Give yourself a little extra reason to treasure your time in the garden by perusing the gardening articles from our March/April 2013 issue. We teach you how to have your earliest spring garden, give you tips on reducing your gardening resources, show you an unexpected source of nutrition, and much more!

If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to use more green products, check out Twist’s line of amazing sponges. Not only are they biodegradable, but they’re also free of dyes and made from all-natural, plant-based materials.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the organization that is supposed to evaluate what’s good for you and not good for you, does not evaluate ingredients in beauty products. If the FDA isn’t going to monitor beauty products, who will? Natural Home assistant editor Kim Wallace reviews two organizations that campaign for safer beauty products.

Welcome to Mother Earth Living, the authority on green lifestyle and design. Each issue of Mother Earth Living features advice to create naturally healthy and nontoxic homes for yourself and your loved ones. With Mother Earth Living by your side, you’ll discover all the best and latest information you want on choosing natural remedies and practicing preventive medicine; cooking with a nutritious and whole-food focus; creating a nontoxic home; and gardening for food, wellness and enjoyment. Subscribe to Mother Earth Living today to get inspired on the art of living wisely and living well.

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